Apparatus for shaping fastener elements



May 13, 1941.

s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1933 INVENTOR. f0W4/F0 71/72:

ATTORNEYS May 13, 1941. J TT 2,241,893

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING FASTENER ELEMENTS Filed April 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EOW/l/Ffl M. 717711 ATTORN Y3 May 13, 1941. E J, TUTTLE 2,241,893

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING FASTENER ELEMENTS Filed April 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Patented May 13, 194

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING FASTENER ELELIENTS Edward J. Tuttle, Waterbury, Conn, assignor, by mesne assignments, to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 23, 1938, Serial No. 203,742

Claims. My invention relates to apparatus for fashioning fastener elements for attachment to fabric edges in slide fastener assemblies.

The present invention is closely related to the apparatus shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 151,625, filed July 2, 1937, now Patent #2,183,373.

In the present invention the dies and ejecting apparatus differ from those shown in my copending application in that the die parts come together to form a recess and lug on the elements and separate without a follow through action.

such as characterizes the previous construction. The kick-off mechanism is also different.

The accompanying drawingsillustrate present preferred embodiments of my invention, in

which Fig. 1 is a plan view of .a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along the section line 2-2 of Fig. 1;, I

Fig. 3 is a side view of the machine;

Figs. 4, 5, and -6 are detailed views, in section, showing the relative movements of the die elements;

Fig. '7 is a-detailed view, in section, illustrating the discharge of a shaped element;

Fig. 8 is an end view of one of the die elements and the kick-off mechanism;

Fig; 9 is an end view of the die element and the knife holding a fastener element in position; and Fig. is a detailed view, partially in section, of a portion of the ejecting mechanism particularly illustrating the fluid pressure connection.

Referring to the drawings, my machine comprises a pair of feeding rollers I for advancing e -itrlp of wire or 2 of general U-shape in cross-section, as particularly shown in Fig. 2, into an' opening 3 in a quill 4, so that its end is in a position for engagement by a cutting edge 5 of a reciprocating knife 6. The knife 6 removes an end or element blank I from the rod 2 of the width of the ultimate fastener element. The detached end of the rod 2 is moved by the knife .8

. into engagement with a hood 8 forming apart of a swedging die 9, as is particularly shown in Figs. 4 to 9. As shown in Figs. 8 and '9 the die cavity is formed by the peripheral walls 8a and rear wall 822 of the hood 8 and the end of the knife 6. The rear wall 8b constitutes the rear wall of the die cavity. The blank 1 is supported in engagement with the hood by the edge 5 of the knife 6. The edge 5 and the hood 8 have .com-

plementary surfaces which enclose the peripheral edges of the element during the subsequent shaping operation. A male punch or die I0 is advanced to engagethe supported element blank. The die 9 has a recess cooperating with a projection I2 on the end of the die in to form a usual lug I4 and a recess IE on the fastener ele- Y ment. "After the punching operation the dies separate and a kick-off mechanism l6 serves to .eject the finished element. The kick-oil mechanism is supplemented by an air jet IT, as hereinafter described. v

Referring particularly to Figs. 4, 5, and 7, the operation of the knife 6 and the dies 9 and I0 is shown in detail. In Figs. 4 and 9 the knife 6 has delivered the end of the strip 2 or element blank 1 in position in front of the die 9 for forming the element.

InFig. 5 the die H). has advanced into cooperative punching engagement with the die 9. In Fig. 7 the die H) has retreated. At the same time the knife 6 has retreated to a position where it is under the end of the advanced stock 2 for a subsequent out. A structural element I8 is provided for engaging and acting as a stop for the stock. 'Ihekick-oif mechanism I6 is also in operation. The elements discharged by the kick-off mechanism fall into a chute l9 along which the movement is accelerated by the air jet I1.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 6, 8, and 9, the die 9 comprises a cylindrical rod mounted for reciprocation in a bearing formed by the under surface'of the bearing block 20 and which supports the die 9 against the upward thrust of the knife 6. The outer end of the rod is shaped to form the hood ,8. An L-shaped bar 2| is mounted for reciprocating movement in a slot 22 formed in the upper surface of the die 9. The

outer end of the L-shaped bar 2| forms a part of the rear and peripheral walls of the hood 8.

By reason of the relative movements between the bar 2| and the remainder of the hood 8 the bar constitutes a portion-of the kick-oil mechanism I6. A spring 24 is provided between the bearing block '20 and an upstanding endv 25 of the bar 2| to insure that the bar 2| moves with the die 9 during the initial retreating movement of the latter. As the die 9 retreats the end 25 of the bar 2| engages a depending tail-piece 26 on a bridge 21 and prevents further rearward move-, ment of the bar 2|. As the remainder of the die 9 continues to retreat, the end of the bar 2| forces the element out of the recess II in position to be engaged by the remainder of the kick-off mechanism IS. The continued rearward movement of the die 9 uncovers a port 28 for the air blast from the air jet I1. Air under compression is normally present and the die .9 acts as a sleeve valve for the port 28 so that air or other fluid under pressure is directed against the end of the bar 2| for displacing'a finished fastener element. The'air also passes down the discharge chute I9 and prevents the elements from adhering to its walls. If grease is present on the stock there is a tendency for the elements, being of light weight to so adhere.

The kick-off mechanism I6 also comprises a rod 30 which reciprocates in a channel 3| in the block 20. Referring particularly to Figs. '1 and 8, the lower end of the rod 30 is provided with a slot 32 for bridging the exposed end of the bar 2| so as to insure the discharge of the finished element from the latter. Upon the completion of the operation, the bar 30 is raised and the die 9 starts to advance toward its swedging position. A stop pin 34 on the die 9 engages the end 25 of the'bar 2| and causes it to advance with the die to its ultimate operative position. The final advancing movement of the bar 2| compresses the spring 24. In the meantime the knife 6 has been operated to cut a new element blank and advance it toward its final swedging position.

Referring to Figs. 2' and 3, the machine comprises a base plate 4|, side plates 42 and 43, and a, cross plate 44 extending between the side plates 42 and 43 for supporting same and the bearing block 20. These plates are secured to the cross plate 44 by any suitable means, as by screws, not shown. A shaft 45 is mounted in the side plates 42 and 43 and extends outwardlytherebeyond. A pulley 46 is connected to any usual prime mover by a belt 41.

The feeding rollers I, as illustrated in Figs. 1- and 2,'are mounted on complementary shafts 53 and 51 to fit into the channel of the rod 2 and are mounted in a frame 48 secured to the rear of .the machine frame by suitable means, not shown. The rollers are carried in upper andlower seats of bearings 49 and 50, respectively, the relative position of which may be slightly adjusted by a set screw extending from the top of the frame 48 for engaging a resilient cross-bar 52 resting on the bearings 49. The lower roller is mounted on the shaft 53 working against a brake 54 to the outer end of which is attached a gear 55. The gear 55 meshes with a gear 56 on the shaft 51 of the upper roller. The shaft 53 extends through a bearing block 58 projecting from the end of the side plate 42. A ball hearing clutch 59, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, is attached to the end of the shaft 53 and is connected by a rod 60 to an eccentric 6| on the shaft 45. Accordingly, with each revolution of the shaft 45 the clutch 59 is caused to actuate the shaft 53 to advance the rod 2 by a desired amount. Be-

rather than a conventional pawl and ratchet, as the latter type of clutch occasionally has slippage by reason of the failure of the teeth to properly register or mesh.

The knife 6 is adjustably mounted in a block 62 sliding in vertical ways 63.- A-clamping plate 64 is secured by screws 65 to hold the knife 6 against the block 62. When the position of the knife 6 is to be changed the screws 65 are loosened. Further adjustment of the knife 6 is secured by having its lower end engage an inclined surface 66 on anadjusting bar 61 which is operated by a screw 68. By adjusting the screw 68, thebar cause of the relatively small movement required, p it is preferred to use the type of clutch illustrated,

61 may be moved in or out to give the final vertical adjustment of the position of the knife 6.

The block 62 is actuated by a cam 69 working against compression springs 10 situated between and having their ends seated in the cross plate 44 and the block 62. Accordingly, with each revolution of the shaft 45 the knife 6 is raised and lowered once in accordance with the shape of the cam 69.

The die 9 is mounted in a slide block 1| sliding in a way formed by plates 12 and 13 which are attached to the cross plate 44 and provided with overhanging plates 14 and 15,. respectively, secured by cap screws 16 to the top of the plates 12 and 13. The die 9 is secured by a clamp block 11 and screws 18 to the slide block 1 I. The position of the die 9 in the block 1| may be adjusted by a wedge 19 having a tapered end and controlled by an adjusting screw 8|.

Reciprocation of the slide block 1| is controlled and 13 by bearings 81 and 88, respectively. The

shaft 85 is actuated by a gear 89 meshing with a gear 90 which, in turn, meshes with a gear 9| mounted on the shaft 45. The various movements of the die 9, as heretofore described, are controlled by the cam 83.

The cam 83 operates against spring 92 and 93 bearing on arms 95 and 96 seated in recesses 91 and 98 in the plates 12 and 13, respectively.

The die I0 is disposed in a slide block 99 mounted between the plates 13 and 12. As the slide blocks 1| and 99 are of similar construction and are mounted in a similar manner, a detailed description of the construction and mounting of the slide block 99 is omitted. The slide block 99 is actuated by a cam I00 mounted on a shaft |0| and secured by bearings I02 and I03 to the plates 12 and 13, respectively. The shaft I0| is driven by a gear I05 meshing with a gear I06 which, in turn, meshes with the gear 9| on the shaft 45.

The kick-off rod 30 is pivotally mounted on the end of a lever I 01 which is pivotally mounted on a screw I08, attached to an upstanding leg I09 of an angle iron having its other leg 0 secured by screws I I to the top plate 12. The other end of the lever I01 is operated by the lever I I2 which is pivoted at one end to bracket 3 by the cap screw II4. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the-lever I01 is provided with a reduced end 5 which is received by a notch in the lever I I2 and is pivotal- 1y retained therein by a bar 6 secured at one end of the lever H2. The other end of the lever H2 is resiliently urged downwardly by a spring 1 secured at one end to the lever H2 and at the other end to a bar I I8 fixed in the side plate 42. The outer end of the lever II 2 is oscillated by means of 'a cam I 9 which is fixed to the shaft 85 and actuates a roller I 20 rotatably mounted on the lever H2. The shaft 85 makes one revolution foreach revolution of the shaft 45 from which it is actuated, and therefore causes the cam I I9 to reciprocate up and down for each revolution of the shafts 45 and 85. An upstandingplate [2| is secured to the legs I09'and N0 of the angle plate to provide a guide for the upward and ,downward movement of the lever .I I2.

Accordingly, I have provided a machine for feeding pre-shaped strips of rod or wire; cutting off the ends therefrom to form blanks; positioning the successive blanks in a forming die; completing the shaping of the blanks into fastener elements; and discharging the shaped fastener elements. The machine is continuous and automatic in its operation.

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention may be otherwise practiced within the spirit thereof and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. An element forming machine'comprising a frame, a punch and die member arranged in axial alignment with each other, guide members for supporting said punch and die member in said frame for reciprocation, said die member having at least a portion of the die cavity formed in the end thereof, means for positioning an element in said die cavity to be swedged therein, means for moving said punch and said die member toward each other so as to swedge said element between the Iends of said respective members, means for moving said punch and die members away from each other so as to form a space therebetween into which the swedged element may be discharged, means for discharging the swedged element from the die cavity into said space, said guide member forsaid die member having a fluid passage provided with an outlet facingdownwardly into said space at the place of discharge of the swedged. element, and said outlet beingv closed by said die member when it approaches said punch and opened by said die member when it recedes from said punch so as to control the flow of the fluid from said outlet.

2. In an element forming machine, a reciprocable die member having at least a portion of an element forming die cavity in one end thereof, means for positioning an element blank in said die cavity, means cooperating with the end of said die member for swedging the element blank in said die cavity, means for reciprocating said die member toward and away from said cooperating means, means for discharging the swedged element from said cavity comprising a slidable member carried by said die member and having an end forming a part of the rear wall of said die cavity, means for arresting the retreating movement of said slidable member during the retreating movement of said die member to cause the forward end of said slidable member to move forward in respect to said die member and displace the swedged member in said die cavity, and means mechanically geared 'in timed relation to said die memher for kicking the swedged element transversely of said die member after the element has been displaced by said slidable member.

3. An element forming machine comprising a die and a cooperating punch adapted to swedge an element in the die, said die comprising a reciprocable bar having a portion of the die cavity formed in the end thereof and an element blank carrying member adapted to reciprocate at substantially right angles to said bar and having the complementary portion of said die cavity formed in the end thereof, means for actuating said bar and element carrying member into their forward positions to form said die cavity with the element blank enclosed therein except on the side facing said punch, means for actuating said punch into cooperative relation with the unenclosed side of the element blank to swedge same, means for actuating said punch and element blank carrying member away from the swedged element, means for actuating said reciprocablebar away from the swedging position, and means for discharging the swedged element from the portion of the die cavity in the end of said bar while it is rearward of the swedging position.

4. An element forming machine comprising a die and a cooperating punch adapted to swedge an element in the die, said die comprising a reciprocable bar having a portion of the die cavity formed in the end thereof and an element blank carrying member adapted to reciprocate at substantially right angles to said barand-having the complementary portion of said die cavity formed in the end thereof, means for actuating said bar and element carrying member into their forward positions to form, said die cavity with the element blank enclosed therein except on the side fac-- ing said punch, a bearing for receiving the direct thrust of said element blank carrying member transmitted through the element blank to' the complementary portion of the die cavity, means for actuating said punch into cooperative relation with theunenclosed side of the element blank to swedge same, means for actuatingsaid punch and element blank carrying member away from the swedged element, means for actuating j said reciprocable bar away from the swedging position, and means for discharging the swedged element from the portion of the die cavity in the end of said bar while it is rearward of the swedging position. v 5. An element forming machine comprising a die and a cooperating punch adapted to swedge an element in the die, said di'e comprising a reciprocable bar having a portion of the die cavity formed in the end thereof and an element blank carrying member adapted to reciprocate at substantially right angles to said bar and having the complementary portion of said die cavity formed in the'end thereof, means for actuating said bar and element carrying member into their forward positions to form said die cavity with the element blank enclosed therein except on the side facing said punch, a bearing for receiving the direct thrust of said element blank carrying member transmitted through the element blank to the complementary portion of the die cavity, means for actuating. said punch into cooperative relation with the unenclosed side of the element blank to swedge same, means for actuating said punch and element blank carrying member away from the swedged element, means for actuating said reciprocable bar away from the swedging position, and means for discharging the swedged element from the portion of the die cavity in the end of said bar while it is rearward of the swedging position, a, delivery chute for receiving the discharged element, a gas pressure conduit having a port in said bearing for said reciprocable bar opposite to the point of discharge of the swedged element from said bar, and said port being opened by said'reciprocable bar as its die cavity end moves rearwardly by it to direct a blast of gas against the element and down said chute.

- EDWARD J. TUTTLE. 

